48 CFR · Federal Acquisition Regulation and Defense supplement

FAR and DFARS navigator

The codified text (eCFR, as of 2026-10-02). Under the Revolutionary FAR Overhaul ↗, agencies follow class deviations with new text for many parts while the formal rules go through the Federal Register: check the solicitation and your contract's clauses, which rule.

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3 sections with “salient physical, functional, or performance characteristics”

  • FAR 11.104 Use of brand name or equal purchase descriptions.
    … descriptions must include, in addition to the brand name, a general description of those salient physical, functional, or performance characteristics of the brand name item that an “equal” item must meet to be acceptable for award. Use bra…
  • FAR 52.211-6 Brand name or equal.
    …ts the characteristics and level of quality that will satisfy the Government's needs. The salient physical, functional, or performance characteristics that “equal” products must meet are specified in the solicitation. (b) To be considered …
  • FAR 2.101 Definitions.
    … that are peculiar to an individual acquisition; provided that the variation includes the salient features of the FAR provision or clause, and is not inconsistent with the intent, principle, and substance of the FAR provision or clause or r…

FAR (chapter 1)

DFARS (chapter 2, Defense)

Source: eCFR, 48 CFR chapters 1 and 2 (GPO GovInfo bulk data) ↗. Rule changes in progress: FAR, DFARS. Terms: glossary.